November 01, 2007

Julie and David reside in Charlotte, NC and planned a beautiful wedding at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina. Another one of those cloudy overcast late afternoons where rain was eminent. The interstate was pouring with a harsh downpour, but a couple minutes from the Harbor the rain was behind me. As I looked in my rearview mirror I prayed the storm not to follow me; and it didn't. WHEW!!!!!

I know I haven't blogged in a while(understatement), but for good reason. I am customizing a lot of things for a HUGE launch. I was able to purchase the URL I wanted, and wil be launching a new site as well as new blog. So stayed tuned. I will be blogging every now and then but didn't want to transfer several posts to the new blog. So I have been waiting. I will be launching the new blog in 45 days. In case you are wondering the url is TheStoryteller.com.

July 08, 2007

The WPJA holds a contest every quarter and is open to all members internationally. Before this quarter noone from South Carolina had ever won. The photograph above won 3rd place in the Emotion Category in the WPJA 1st Quarter Contest. The award winning photograph was of Dr. Kenosha Clark and her father in Charleston during the father-daughter dance. Mr. William Clark, with tears mounting, looks toward heaven as if to thank God for the blessings in his daughter's life. Kenosha who married another Dr. from the Medical University of Charleston shared with me the limited amount of African American's attending the medical school. So I can only imagine how proud Mr. Clark felt at graduation last year when Kenosha was one of the handful of African-American graduates. Then to see Kenosha marry Dr. Doug Gleaton was another blessing especially since Doug is steadfast in his faith. But like I said I can only "imagine" what Mr. Clark was feeling while he danced with his daughter. But when Mr. Clark looks back on this photograph he will know exactly how he felt and what words he had with God. I am pleased to have been on this journey with Kensoha and Doug. This photograph was properly named "A Father's Thankful Prayer".

June 15, 2007

Sam was an absolute pleasure to work with, but it was her mom that actually assisted me in capturing the true "Sam". Some parents constantly tell their kids to smile and position the kids certain ways. Almost completely ruining the mood of the shoot and the child's spirit. So kudo's to Sam's mom for letting Sam and I enjoy the photo shoot and capturing the day naturally. I get so frustrated when parents are impatient and expect the kids to be supermodels right away. My engagement couples who are adults need time to relax, so let's give the kids the time they deservel. The cool thing about utilizing my services is that we have an hour and half, so time isn't an issue like at other photographic facilities. Sam is an 8 year old who takes karate and by all means is not "girly"; at least not yet. Her mother was surprised to see Sam perform so well during the session. By the end of the day Sam was even suggesting angles to shoot and poses. I know this took her mother by complete surprise. You see I showed Sam and her mom the photographs during the shoot. A nice professional shot of someone not just Sam, is so valueable. It lifts one's spirit and sometimes can bring about confidence, just as it did with Sam. Thanks again to Sam's mother for staying in the shadows and letting me work with Sam these photographs are completely due to your trust in my abilities.

June 13, 2007

On June 20th I will be available to photographers on the PICtage's forum. With a community of 2,000 photograhers, I will have to type really fast! So if you didn't see me speak at PartnerCon Chicago and have questions mark your calendar for June 20th and log into the Pictage forum. Below are some photographs from Chicago, and we look forward to seeing everyone in LA.

Rarely do I get beat in ping-pong, but Mike Colon has these long arms and cat like reflexes.

Big thanks to Sarah Barlow and Amy Nave. Sarah's parents graciously opened their home to several photographer for a little Taco's chow down. Every second I turned around Amy Nave was steadily hovering over the stove. I also enjoyed basketball with Sarah's little brother and the late night sing-a-long gathered around the fire with smores. Fun times in Chicago. For those of you who keep up with Christian music Sarah is cousins with Barlow Girl, so the sing-along was on another level.

Sara France was also present. She owns her own studio, but also wears a couple of hats within the PICtage orginization.

June 12, 2007

Penelope is a beautiful bride from Australia, while Doug is a Wisconsin "farm boy" as he put it, and is currently a military officer. Love obviously has no boundaries as the two met in Prague at an international sudies program. The wedding was a small intimate affair on the coast of Charleston and the images are absolutely spectacular. The warmth from close family and friendswill be something I truely remember. Penelope tell your mom I will definitely pay Australia a visit!!!!!

The temperature...perfect...the winds...gusty...the wedding...absolutely exquisite. The wedding was visually gorgeous, but nothing would prepare me for the event emotionally. The Ritz Carleton was the perfect setting for Julissa and Frankie and with my good friend Riccis coverage of this event went flawlessly. As you can see within the slideshow there are several emotional moments. I love how Frankie and his mother shared their dance with each other. Her tears almost made me cry. I love Julissa's reaction to the two of them dancing as well. But the moment in which Julissa stopped the reception, and with a soft voice softly spoke in the micophone. "My mother never got the chance to dance with her father at her wedding, so I would like to invite my mother and grandfather to the dance floor to have their long awaited Father-Daughter dance". This was so momentus. It was such a selfless act on Julissa's part and was heartfelt throught the reception.

Going to Miami was a blast. Before Jolissa and Frankie's wedding I wanted to absorb some of what South Beach had to offer. I got a chance to dine at great restaurants such as "A Fish Called Avalon", take a dip in the Miami ocean(great waves and clean ocean waters), and I also had a chance to play volleyball.

In the morning some of the guys from the Downtown South Beach Fire Dept. get together for some friendly competition, and apparently needed an extra person. Lucky for me I just happened to be there. I teamed up with Desmond and Nelly for a little three on three. It was the perfect excercise before the big wedding.

May 20, 2007

On a day where rain was imminent and clouds loomed overhead, Stacy and Ivan were showered with blessings and not wet weather.
These wedding images look so historical and timeless. I guess meeting and photographing Rudy Giuliani during the engagement session set the tone to which would follow. The wedding day images have such a presidential feel. Stacy and Ivan look like royalty and could grace the cover of any bridal magazine.

Yesterday Dr. Kenosha Clark and Dr. Doug Gleaton were married in Charleston and I wanted to post Kenosha's bridal portrait. I absolutely love it and will post more fabulous images from the wedding later.